Sharp-shinned Hawk?

[LuBird]

This Hawk was in the backyard this morning,but I am not good at identifying Hawks and other Raptors. I'd like to know if someone could make a possitive ID from these photos. Thanks.

[bcurrie]

Sorry LuBird. For me to ID this Hawk, I would have to see the tail and/or face larger. You might want to put this under the "Bird Identification Help Needed" forum, you might get more of a response. I believe more people read that forum than this one.

[LuBird]

Thanks for trying Brian. I started a list like Birdman and I don't want to add this unless I have a confirmation. A Sharp-Shinned Hawk would be unusual to see in our area. I am trying to enhance the photos on the Scanner and I will try putting that photo on the other thread. :gh:

[oldsquaw]

It almost looks like a Cooper's. The tail appears to be somewhat long. And the head looks smallish. But really hard to tell.

[LuBird]

I looked in the book oldsquaw, and you could be right. These 2 Hawks look a lot alike. The only thing that made me guess it as Sharp-shinned is that it was a small Hawk and the book said a Cooper's was a medium size. Meybe I should list it as either or on my life list. Thanks.

[oldsquaw]

LuBird,

They are both fairly common, you'll get both. I get both hunting around my feeders each year. The sharpie has a squared tail and Cooper's has a rounded tail. These are the easiest field marks. Van

[LuBird]

Thanks again Van,it must be a Sharp-Shinned. The tail was very square. I watched it for almost an hour as it devoured its prey. The tail matches the Peterson field Guide for Hawks,but the backside feathers were a different-looking color. Then I thought meybe it was an immature Sharpie,but it did not have the little white terminal band at the tip of the tail. Just your input has made me confident to list it as a Sharpie. I wish the pics had been better,but you certainly are good at IDs to tell anything from those photos.

We are right in town so even though they are somewhat common,it is very rare to see any kind of Bird of Prey in our yard.:gh: It is a first for me and was interesting to watch how it ate the prey. I never saw the kill itself, all of a sudden there it was, picking away at feathers and after I took the pics as I tried to get closer,it took off,with the rest of its kill and perched in our Hemloch. I looked and looked, but couldn't see him in the Tree.

[oldsquaw]

Great. I've had both kill birds at my feeders each year. I find that if I have no birds at the feeder, there is an Accipiter somewhere near.

[Saskbirder]

Hi
Just like to add my impressions. This bird's profile closely resembles a Sharp-shinned as this species has a porportionately smaller, more rounded head.

The Cooper's has a larger more rectangularly shaped head with the eye appearing forward near the base of the bill instead of centered.

The Cooper's typically slightly raised hackles creates the perception of a larger headed bird with, as mentioned, a flat rather than rounded profile of the head.

Of course the eye cannot be seen. I only mention this because I always check all of these aspects at once.

Good Birding !

[LuBird]

Hi Bob. Thanks for your input. It must be a Sharp-shinned. It has been coming back and has made several kills,always at that location. I keep trying to get a better pic,but the slightest movement and Bird and prey are gone. I am getting better at IDs, but if you are able to check out all those aspects at once, your Idying must be very accurate indeed.

Good birding to you too!

[Michael Frankis]

I'd agree with Sharp-shin, this has the look of a small bird.

Michael

[dennis]

Just to cloud the issue a little..... I've found that Female Sharp-shinned and male Cooper's are about the same size. Don't think size is a good ID factor.

Bob L. has a good point about the difference in the head shape. That would be(for me) a better gauge.

dennis

[LuBird]

I know one thing, I am going to get a better camera for bird photos. One of those fancy digitals would have given you nice birding folks a real chance at IDing it. 35mms are fun,but the details are often blurred no matter what I do :(

Thanks again for all the input:)